Workmen's advocate., 1887-02-05
FROM MRS. AVELlNG.
Home Again Hard Times For The
 Working. People Everywhere.

once more in London, III the Ola world, and the small external differences apart, it is wonderful how like the New World it is. One of the very last things heard in New York was that the number of un- employed this year was greater than ever and the very first thing found in London was that the question of the hour is the unemployed. It is even forcing Dillon's 'pan of campaign and Lord Salisbury's efforts to make ministerial tory trick with that miserable money-lender, Goschen, into the shade. And the reason for the extraordinary in terest taken in these unemployed men IS not very far to seek. It does not mean greater sympethy or even better con- prehension of the situation. It only means that the position threatens to become dangerous" For the first time the unemployed workingmen are begin ming to organize, and are beginning to understand why they are starving when they are able and willing to work. For the first time at meetings held by the men, general principles are discussed be- sides the purely personal question of their want of work. This largely due to the efforts of the Social-Democratic Federation, whose members have been very active of late in organizing the un employed.
 At all the different London vestries suggestions are before the boards recom- mending the erection of artizan dwell lings, wash houses, baths, etc but so far all that the vestries have done is to 'take in'' a few hands at the munificent sum of four pence eight cents) per hour, to clear away the snow that was lying so thickly on the roads, for few days. That now the snow has disappeared the question is, what is to be done next! Meantime, large meetings and process sions, thousands strong, are held daily. | One of the most curious of such meet ings was one at which several well-known "philanthropists" like Lord Brabazon and Mr. Arnold White, were present to advocate their emigration schemes. | The usual plattudes were talked about the beauties of colonization and emigra tion, and Lord Brabazon, who opposes State-aided public works for the unem- | ployed, waxed eloquent in demanding State aid for getting these same unem- ployed out of the country. One of the Socialists present particularly asked the noble lord (whO does little rack renting in Ireland) if it would not "be better to nationalize the land at home first, and exhaust all the natural resources?' Then several speakers, cheered to the echo by the crowded meeting, explained to the various philanthropists what it is that Socialists mean and are determined to get. If you will bear in mind that only five or six years ago the workingmen of London used to applaud Lord Brabazon's emigration schemes, and fully believed they could settle the whole question, the fact that they now can hardly be in- duced to give him hearing, and refuse absolutely to be taken in with any "schemes,' shows how great is the advance made during that time in this country.
 Another matter that is much to the fore just now is the fearful overwork of shop-men and women. Fourteen to sixteen hours work is common, and during that time the unfortunate en- ployes are not even allowed to sit down.
 Sir John Lubbock is to introduce a Bill dealing with this shameful explota- tion as soon as Parliament meets. The necessity for some act dealing with the shops and shop.keepers like the the Factory Acts deal with the mill-owners is conclusively shown by the large amount of evidence that has been collec- ted on the subject. Take the following case, which IS typical: Out of 250 shops of one particular trade in Manchester 235 ''were anxious to close early, but fifteen refused, and these fifteen kept the whole s5o open" One of the shop girls, one, according to the bourgeois Daily Aers, ''out of a hundred thousand says. 'l have overfiowing of the blood which causes me to swoon after standing for long time. scarcely know what it is to stand with ease for the violent pain in my feet and legs Commenting on this